1 Peter 3:1-2 Exposition & Application: What Does Godly Submission Look Like in Marriage?

1 Peter 3:1-2 calls wives to submit to their husbands with reverence and godly conduct. This submission, as seen in Ephesians 5:22, reflects trust in God’s design for marriage. Even if a husband is disobedient to the Word, the wife’s chaste and respectful behavior can influence him without argument, demonstrating the principle in Proverbs 21:1 that God can turn hearts through His power. Chaste conduct emphasizes inward holiness, as commanded in Hebrews 12:14, while reverence for God shapes a wife’s relationship with her husband. This passage challenges wives to reflect Christ’s character through purity and submission, trusting God to work through their faithfulness. It warns against contentiousness, as stated in Proverbs 27:15, and urges wives to glorify God in their marriages by living in obedience and holiness.